Image forming apparatus, printer driver, program and recording medium

ABSTRACT

According to an image forming apparatus of the present invention, when a user with the intention of having a processing completed in a short time inputs execution of an image forming job involving the intention, this operation information is acquired by an operation information acquisition section. In response to that, an invalidation determining section determines to invalidate processing for maintenance, based on the operation information. Responding to that, an invalidation control section invalidates the processing for maintenance on image forming during execution of the image forming job regardless of predetermined rules. By this means, the processing for maintenance on image forming cannot be executed during the image forming job in the case of a user with the intention of having a processing completed in a short time.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus, a printerdriver, a program and a recording medium which can satisfy bothconflicting requests from a user that a processing time for imageforming is short and that an image with high quality is obtained.

2. Background Art

It has been conventionally known that printout characteristics such asdensity are changed due to a change in environments such as temperatureand humidity in a setting location of an image forming apparatusincluding a copier, a printer, a facsimile machine or a combination ofthe machines and a change over time in the status of each component ofthe apparatus. In a color copier, for example, the amount of toneradhered to recording paper is changed when the temperature, humidity orthe like in an atmosphere of its setting location is changed, and thusits output characteristics deviate from the characteristics as theyshould be intrinsically. In addition, the temperature in each componentof the apparatus is raised when image forming processing is performed insuccession for a long time, whereby a deviation can be also caused inthe output characteristics.

In order to compensate for such a change in output characteristicsinvolved in a disturbance, an adjustment (hereinafter referred to as acalibration) of the output characteristics is generally made in theimage forming apparatus. It is known as a calibration, for example, toform a patch image for adjusting the output characteristics on anintermediate transfer member, read its toner density, feed back itsresult and adjust the developing bias value of a developing machine.

The calibration plays an important role in maintaining image qualityabove a certain level in the apparatus. On the other hand, processing ofthe calibration takes a relatively long time, for example, several tensof seconds, which causes a disadvantage that the apparatus is notavailable during that time.

As an approach to eliminate the disadvantage, Japanese PublishedUnexamined Patent Application No. 2006-130779 discloses art wherein acalibration is not conducted until the cumulative number of copiesexceeds a predetermined value when a copy job is performed insuccession, thereby attempting to suppress sudden performance of thecalibration during the job or between each job and interruption ofcopying by the calibration as much as possible, for example.

However, the aforementioned prior art uniformly processes whether toperform the calibration in a case where a copy job is carried out insuccession, based on whether the cumulative number of copies exceeds apredetermined value in the job. Consequently, conflicting requests froma user that a processing time for image forming is short and that animage with high quality is obtained cannot both be satisfied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide animage forming apparatus capable of satisfying both conflicting requestsfrom a user that a processing time for image forming is short and thatan image with high quality is obtained.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a printerdriver, a program and a recording medium capable of satisfying bothconflicting requests from a user that a processing time for imageforming is short and that an image with high quality is obtained.

In order to achieve the aforementioned objects, an image formingapparatus according to the present invention, configured to executeprocessing for maintenance on image forming, based on predeterminedrules, includes an operation information acquisition section acquiringoperation information related to execution of an image forming job, aninvalidation determining section making a determination on whether themaintenance processing needs to be invalidated, based on the operationinformation acquired by the operation information acquisition sectionand an invalidation control section taking control of invalidating themaintenance processing during execution of the image forming jobregardless of the predetermined rules, when a determination that themaintenance processing needs to be invalidated is made, as a result ofthe determination in the invalidation determining section.

The present invention can adopt a configuration in which theinvalidation determining section determines to invalidate themaintenance processing when the operation information acquisitionsection acquires operation information that an image forming jobinvolving an intention of having a processing completed in a short timeneeds to be executed.

Furthermore, the present invention can adopt a configuration in whichthe maintenance processing can be processing of a calibration formaintaining quality of image forming.

Still furthermore, the present invention may adopt a configuration inwhich an operation key section with a plurality of operation keys foraccepting an operation input by a user, the operation input beingrelated to execution of an image forming job, is further provided, andthe operation information related to the execution of the image formingjob involving the intention of having a processing completed in a shorttime may be obtained by simultaneously operating more than one key incombination among the plurality of the operation keys.

Moreover, the present invention can adopt a configuration in which anoperation key section with a plurality of operation keys for acceptingan operation input by a user, the operation input being related toexecution of an image forming job, is further provided, and theoperation information related to the execution of the image forming jobinvolving the intention of having a processing completed in a short timecan be obtained by operating an independent dedicated key among theplurality of the operation keys.

The present invention may adopt a configuration in which the operationkey section is composed of both or either one of groups of keys ofhardware resources and software resources.

Alternatively, the image forming apparatus according to the presentinvention can adopt a configuration in which an operation key sectionwith a plurality of operation keys for accepting an operation input by auser, the operation input being related to execution of an image formingjob, is further provided, and the invalidation determining sectiondetermines to invalidate the maintenance processing when the operationinformation acquisition section acquires operation information that theoperation key is input multiple times within a predetermined time.

Furthermore, the present invention can adopt a configuration in whichthe maintenance processing is processing related to a calibration formaintaining quality of image forming.

Still furthermore, the present invention may adopt a configuration inwhich the operation key is a start key operated at the time of an inputinstruction for execution of an image forming job.

Moreover, the present invention can adopt a configuration in which theinvalidation determining section determines to invalidate themaintenance processing when the operation key is input during executionof the image forming job or maintenance processing.

Additionally, the present invention may adopt a configuration in whichthe operation key section is composed of both or either one of groups ofkeys of hardware resources and software resources.

On the other hand, a printer driver according to the present inventionis installed in an information processor provided with a display inorder to control an operation of a printer configured to executeprocessing for maintenance on printing, based on predetermined rules,includes an operation information accepting section accepting an inputoperation related to execution of a print job and an invalidationcommand transfer section transferring to the printer a command toinvalidate the maintenance processing during execution of a print jobinvolving an intention of having a processing completed in a short time,when the operation information accepting section accepts operationinformation related to the execution of the print job.

The present invention can adopt a configuration in which the processingfor maintenance on printing is processing related to a calibration formaintaining print quality.

Furthermore, the present invention can adopt a configuration in whichthe operation information related to the execution of the print jobinvolving the intention of having a processing completed in a short timeis accepted by clicking multiple times a print button provided on adialogue related to execution of a print job and displayed on a displayscreen of the display.

Still furthermore, the present invention may adopt a configuration inwhich the operation information related to the execution of the printjob involving the intention of having a processing completed in a shorttime is accepted by clicking a dedicated correction invalidation printbutton provided on a dialogue related to execution of a print job anddisplayed on a display screen of the display.

Moreover, a program according to the present invention only needs to beconfigured as a program for realizing the function of the printer driveraccording to the present invention in the information processor.

A recording medium according to the present invention only needs to beconfigured as a computer-readable recording medium storing the programaccording to the present invention.

<Operation and Effects of the Invention>

In the image forming apparatus according to the present invention, whena user with the intention of having a processing completed in a shorttime performs an input operation related to execution of an imageforming job involving the intention, this operation information isacquired by the operation information acquisition section, for example.In response to that, the invalidation determining section determines toinvalidate the maintenance processing, based on the operationinformation, whereupon the invalidation control section invalidates theprocessing for maintenance on image forming during execution of theimage forming job regardless of predetermined rules. By this means, theprocessing for maintenance on image forming cannot be executed duringthe image forming job in the case of a user with the intention of havinga processing completed in a short time. Consequently, a benefit in linewith the user's intention of having a processing completed in a shorttime can be gained. On the other hand, the processing for maintenance onimage forming is executed during the image forming job, based onpredetermined rules, with regard to a user having no such intention.Therefore, a benefit of obtaining an image with high quality to whichmaintenance on image forming is performed as appropriate can be gained.As a result, conflicting requests from a user that a processing time forimage forming is short and that an image with high quality is obtainedcan both be satisfied.

On the other hand, in the printer driver according to the presentinvention, when a user with the intention of having a processingcompleted in a short time performs an input operation related toexecution of a print job involving the intention, this operationinformation is accepted by the operation information accepting section.In response to that, the invalidation command transfer section transfersto the printer a command to invalidate the processing for maintenance onprinting during execution of the print job regardless of predeterminedrules, whereupon the maintenance processing is invalidated duringexecution of the print job. Therefore, the processing for maintenance onprinting cannot be executed during the print job in the case of a userwith the intention of having a processing completed in a short time.Accordingly, a benefit in line with the user's intention of having aprocessing completed in a short time can be gained. On the other hand,the processing for maintenance on printing is executed during the printjob according to predetermined rules with regard to a user having nosuch intention. Therefore, a benefit of obtaining an image with highquality to which maintenance on printing is performed as appropriate canbe gained. As a result, conflicting requests from a user that aprocessing time for printing is short and that an image with highquality is obtained can both be satisfied.

The program according to the present invention is configured as aprogram for realizing the function of the printer driver according tothe present invention in the information processor. Consequently, aninformation processor capable of satisfying both conflicting requestsfrom a user that a processing time for printing is short and that animage with high quality is obtained can be embodied by installing theprogram according to the present invention in the information processor.

The recording medium according to the present invention is configured asa computer-readable recording medium storing the program according tothe present invention, which contributes greatly to the spread of aprogram exhibiting a practical application with superior functions ofsatisfying both conflicting requests from a user that a processing timefor printing is short and that an image with high quality is obtained.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram showing a general configuration ofimage forming apparatuses according to a first and a second embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an outline view of an operation panel section in commonbetween the image forming apparatuses according to the first and secondembodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an operational flowchart of the image forming apparatusaccording to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an outline view of an operation panel section used in amodification of the image forming apparatus according to the firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an operational flowchart of the image forming apparatusaccording to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram showing a general configuration ofan information processor itself and its periphery, installed with aprinter driver according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a linkage operation between the informationprocessor installed with the printer driver according to the embodimentof the present invention and an image forming apparatus;

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a display screen for a printdialogue associated with execution of a print job, displayed on adisplay in the information processor installed with the printer driveraccording to the embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a modification of the display screen for theprint dialogue associated with the execution of the print job, displayedon the display in the information processor installed with the printerdriver according to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, image forming apparatuses according to a first and a secondembodiment of the present invention, a printer driver, a program and arecording medium are described in detail with reference to the drawings.Configurations of functional sections are nearly common between theimage forming apparatuses of the first and second embodiments.

Accordingly, the functional sections in common between the image formingapparatuses of the first and second embodiments are denoted by the samesymbols. An explanation will be given focusing on differences betweenthem while repeated explanation is omitted.

Image Forming Apparatuses of a First and a Second Embodiments of thePresent Invention General Configuration of the Image Forming Apparatusesof the First and Second Embodiments of the Present Invention

The image forming apparatuses according to the first and secondembodiments of the present invention are, for example, a digital colorcopier. In order to compensate for a change in output characteristicsinvolved in a disturbance including temperature, humidity or the like inan atmosphere of a setting location of the apparatus, the apparatus hasa function of performing a calibration including a correction of colordrift when a predetermined correction start condition (corresponding to‘predetermined rules’ in claims) as will be described later issatisfied.

Additionally, at least one of the functions of a printout, a facsimiletransmission, a mail transmission and a data transmission is availablein the image forming apparatus. The apparatus is controlled by a maincontrol section 11 composed of a microcomputer and dedicated hardwarecircuitry. As input/output devices connected to the main control section11 and taking charge of various functions, the image forming apparatusincludes a scanner section 21, an image processing section 31, an enginesection 41, an operation panel section 51, a facsimile communicationsection 61, a hard disk drive (HDD) 63 and a network interface (I/F)section 65.

The main control section 11 houses a scanner controller 13 controllingan operation for achieving a scanner function, a facsimile controller 15controlling an operation for achieving a facsimile function, a printercontroller 17 controlling an operation for achieving a printer functionand a copy controller 19 controlling an operation for achieving a copyfunction. The main control section 11 has overall control for anoperation of the entire apparatus.

The scanner section 21 includes an image irradiation lamp 23 and acharge coupled device (CCD) sensor 25 constituting a scanner (notshown). The image irradiation lamp 23 irradiates a document and the CCDsensor 25 receives its reflected light, whereby the scanner section 21reads out an image from the document and outputs image datacorresponding to the read-out image to the image processing section 31.

The image processing section 31 includes a correction section 33, animage manipulation section 35 and an image memory 37. The imageprocessing section 31 processes the image data having been read by thescanner section 21, with use of the correction section 33 and the imagemanipulation section 35 according to need, and stores the processedimage data on the image memory 37 or outputs the processed image data tothe engine section 41 and the facsimile communication section 61. Thecorrection section 33 makes a predetermined correction such as a levelcorrection, a Y correction and the like to the image data which has beenread by the scanner section 21. The image manipulation section 35executes a variety of manipulating processings such as compression orexpansion and scaling of image data.

The engine section 41 includes a paper conveying section 43 composed ofa paper feeding cassette, a paper feeding roller, etc., which are notshown, an image forming section 45 composed of a photosensitive drum, anexposure system, a development system, etc., which are not shown, atransfer section 47 composed of a transfer roller, etc., (not shown) anda fixing section 49 composed of a fixing roller, etc., (not shown). Theengine section 41 prints out an image on a sheet of paper by means ofimage data which has been read by the scanner section 21, image datawhich has been transmitted from a client personal computer (PC) by alocal area network (LAN) via the network I/F section 65 and image dataof facsimile data which has been received from an external facsimilemachine by the facsimile communication section 61. More specifically,the paper conveying section 43 conveys a sheet of paper to the imageforming section 45, which forms a toner image corresponding to theforegoing image data. The transfer section 47 transfers the toner imageto the sheet of paper. The fixing section 49 fixes the toner image onthe sheet of paper to form an image.

The operation panel section 51 includes a touch panel section 53 and anoperation key section 59 arranged with a group of operation keys such asnumeric keys 55, a start key 57 and a stop/clear key 58, as shown inFIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The operation panel section 51 is an operationsection for selectively inputting various functions in the embodiments.The operation panel section 51 is used in order that a user may conductan operation related to a scanner function, a facsimile function, aprinter function or a copy function. The operation panel section 51provides the main control section 11 with an operation command, etc., bythe user.

The touch panel section 53 includes a touch panel unit combined with atouch panel and a color liquid crystal display (LCD). The touch panelsection 53 displays a variety of operation screens, for example,information on a document size, a copy size and the number of copies inperforming the copy function and also displays an operation button inorder that the user may input a variety of operation commands bytouching a relevant place.

The operation key section 59 (corresponding to ‘an operation keysection’ in the present invention) as hardware resources includes aplurality of operation keys to accept an operation input by the user.The operation key section 59 is used when the user selectively conductsa key input operation of a necessary function from among a variety offunctions such as a copy function, a printer function, a scannerfunction and a facsimile function or when the user inputs, for example,the number of copies and a command to execute copying. The operation keysection 59 is also used when a user with the intention of having aprocessing completed in a short time performs an input operation relatedto execution of an image forming job involving the intention. Morespecifically, for example, simultaneously pressing the stop/clear key 58with the start key 57 to command a copy job (image forming job) allowsmaintenance processing such as a calibration to be invalidated duringthe performance of the copy job. This operation example is merely anembodiment, and other than the combination described above, combiningappropriate key operations can be set as a trigger in order toinvalidate the maintenance processing of the calibration. Instead of agroup of keys of hardware resources, the operation key section 59 may beconfigured by what is called a software keyboard which is a group ofkeys of software resources.

The facsimile communication section 61 includes an encoding/decodingsection (not shown), a modulation and demodulation section (not shown)and a network control unit (NCU) (not shown). The facsimilecommunication section 61 transmits image data of a document which hasbeen read by the scanner section 21, to a facsimile machine via atelephone line and receives image data which has been transmitted by afacsimile machine.

The HDD 63 stores image data which has been read by the scanner section21 and a variety of data such as an output format set in the image data.The image data stored in the HDD 63 is not only used inside the imageforming apparatus but also checked from a client PC, etc., via thenetwork I/F section 65 or transferred to a predetermined folder on aclient PC, a file transfer protocol (FTP) server, etc., if necessary.

The network I/F section 65 controls transmission and reception of avariety of data relative to a client PC, etc., connected via the LAN,with use of a network interface (10/100Base-TX). The network I/F section65, for example, receives printing data having been transmitted from theclient PC.

In order to invalidate the maintenance processing such as a calibrationcorrection during execution of a copy job involving a user's intentionof having the job completed in a short time when the user with theintention operates the operation key section 59 to perform inputoperation related to the execution of the copy job, the main controlsection 11 includes an operation information acquisition section 71 foracquiring operation information related to an input operation of theoperation key section 59, a correction start condition table 73 storingpredetermined rules as a correction start condition for a calibration,for example, a rule of starting a calibration correction every 1,000times of copying processing, a correction necessity determining section(corresponding to ‘an invalidation determining section’ in the presentinvention) 75 determining the necessity of the calibration correctionbased on the operation information related to the input operation of theoperation key section 59 acquired by the operation informationacquisition section 71 and a correction command control section(corresponding to ‘an invalidation control section’ in the presentinvention) 77 controlling a command on whether the calibrationcorrection is performed, based on a result of the correction necessitydetermination in the correction necessity determining section 75.

Operation of the Image Forming Apparatus of the First Embodiment

Subsequently, operation of the image forming apparatus according to thefirst embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 3.

When a user conducts an input operation related to a copy job via theoperation key section 59, the operation information acquisition section71 acquires that operation information and transmits the acquiredoperation information to the correction necessity determining section75. In response to that, the correction necessity determining section 75makes a correction necessity determination on whether a calibrationcorrection is to be invalidated during the performance of the copy job,based on the acquired operation information (step S11). In step S11, auser's intention of the correction necessity is determined throughchecking whether the input operation by the user is for execution of acopy job involving the user's intention of having the processingcompleted in a short time, and more specifically, whether the stop/clearkey 58 is simultaneously pressed with the start key 57.

When a determination that a correction is needed (a correction does notneed to be invalidated) is made, as a result of the correction necessitydetermination in step S11, the correction necessity determining section75 refers to the correction start condition, etc., stored in thecorrection start condition table 73, thereby determining whether thecorrection start condition is satisfied (step S12). When a determinationthat the correction start condition has been satisfied is made, as aresult of the determination in step S12, the correction command controlsection 77 commands a correction of calibration, whereupon predeterminedcorrection processing of the calibration is carried out during the copyjob (step S13). Although the copy job is interrupted until thecorrection processing is completed, it is highly probable that imagequality is improved after the calibration correction is performed.Therefore, the user can obtain an image with high quality in return forbeing forced to wait.

When a determination that a correction is not wanted (a correction needsto be invalidated) is made as a result of the correction necessitydetermination in step S11, when a determination that the correctionstart condition has not been satisfied is made as a result of thedetermination in step S12 or after the correction processing in step S13is ended, the correction command control section 77 provides a commandto invalidate the correction of calibration, whereupon a predeterminedcopy job is performed promptly (step S14).

The main control section 11 determines whether a copy job (making acolor copy of 10 sheets of an A4 size document, for example) input bythe user is completed each time single copy processing is executed instep S14 (step S15). When a determination that the copy job has not beencompleted yet is made, as a result of the completion determination instep S15, the main control section 11 returns the flow of the processingto step S11 and repeats the subsequent processing. When a determinationthat the copy job has been completed is made, as a result of thecompletion determination in step S15, the main control section 11terminates the whole processing.

When a user who has initially conducted an operation of selecting not toinvalidate the correction reaches the point of intending to invalidatethe correction later, switching to a correction invalidation mode can bepermitted even during a job by conducting a key operation related to thecorrection invalidation in the middle of the job.

In the first embodiment, a mode of simultaneously pressing thestop/clear key 58 with the start key 57 is exemplarily described as akey operation for the user to input his/her selection of invalidatingthe correction. However, the present invention is not restricted to theembodiment and can adopt a mode that the user selects a print job withthe correction invalidated, by operating an independent dedicated key(see ‘a correction-prohibited start key 56’ in FIG. 4), for example. Bydoing this, a user who wants to have a necessary copy job carried outurgently can achieve hid/her purpose easily by pressing the dedicatedkey with a single keystroke without hesitation. Consequently,convenience for the user can be enhanced.

Effects of the First Embodiment

According to the image forming apparatus of the first embodiment, asdescribed above, when a user with the intention of having a processingcompleted in a short time carries out an input operation related toexecution of a copy job involving the intention, this operationinformation is acquired in the operation information acquisition section71. In response to that, the correction necessity determining section 75determines to invalidate correction processing of a calibration, basedon the operation information. Responding to that, the correction commandcontrol section 77 invalidates a calibration correction (processing formaintenance on image forming) during execution of the copy job. As aresult, the processing for maintenance on image forming cannot beexecuted during the copy job with regard to a user with the intention ofhaving the processing completed in a short time, and thus a benefit inline with the user's intention of having a processing completed in ashort time can be gained. On the other hand, the processing formaintenance on image forming is executed during the copy job accordingto predetermined rules with regard to a user having no such intention.Therefore, a benefit of obtaining an image with high quality to whichmaintenance on image forming is performed as appropriate can be gained.As a result, the conflicting requests from a user that a processing timefor image forming is short and that an image with high quality isobtained can both be satisfied.

Subsequently, an image forming apparatus according to a secondembodiment of the present invention is described in detail withreference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 5.

Description of Components Unique to the Image Forming Apparatus of theSecond Embodiment of the Present Invention

The image forming apparatus according to the second embodiment of thepresent invention has a function of invalidating maintenance processingof calibration during execution of a copy job involving a user'sintention of having an image forming job completed urgently, when a userwith the intention carries out successive input operations of pressingthe start key 57.

In order to perform the function, when the start key 57, which isusually operated with one touch to give a command of starting the copyjob (image forming job), is input more than once (twice, for example)within a predetermined time (1 second, for example) (a mode of such akey input operation is sometimes referred to as ‘a successive keystrokeinput operation’), the image forming apparatus according to the secondembodiment of the present invention serves so as to invalidatemaintenance processing of a calibration correction during execution ofthe copy job, using the successive keystroke input operation as atrigger. However, the operation example is merely an embodiment and amode of successive keystroke input operations of a key other than thestart key 57 can be adopted as a trigger to invalidate the maintenanceprocessing of calibration, etc.

Operation of the Image Forming Apparatus of the Second Embodiment

Subsequently, operation of the image forming apparatus according to thesecond embodiment is described with reference to FIG. 5.

When an input operation of the start key 57 related to a command tostart a copy job is conducted by a user (step S51), the operationinformation acquisition section 71 acquires that operation informationand transmits the acquired operation information to the correctionnecessity determining section 75. In response to that, the correctionnecessity determining section 75 makes a successive keystrokedetermination on whether the start key 57 is successively input morethan once (twice, for example) within a predetermined time (1 second,for example), based on the acquired operation information (step S52). Instep S52, a user's intention of the correction necessity is determinedthrough checking whether the key input operation by the user is an inputoperation related to urgent execution of a copy job.

When a determination that the start key 57 has not been input twicesuccessively within one second is made, as a result of the successivekeystroke determination in step S52, the correction necessitydetermining section 75 writes ‘0 as a default value on a start key flag(Key_R) for storing whether the start key 57 is operated duringexecution of the copy job (step S53). The value ‘0’ of the start keyflag (Key_R) means that the start key 57 is not operated during theperformance of the copy job. Next, the correction necessity determiningsection 75 refers to a correction start condition stored in thecorrection start condition table 73, thereby determining whether thecorrection start condition is satisfied (step S54) When a determinationthat the correction start condition has been satisfied is made, as aresult of the determination in step S54, the correction command controlsection 77 commands a correction of calibration, whereby correctionprocessing according to predetermined rules is carried out during thecopy job (step S55). Although the copy job is interrupted until thecorrection processing is completed, it is highly probable that imagequality is improved after the performance of the calibration correction.Therefore, the user can obtain an image with high quality in return forbeing forced to wait.

When a determination that the start key 57 has been input twicesuccessively within a second is made, as a result of the successivekeystroke determination in step S52, the correction necessitydetermining section 75 regards that the user has selected invalidationof the calibration correction, writes ‘1’ as a default value on acorrection invalidation flag (Cal_cancel) for storing whether thecalibration correction needs to be invalidated during the performance ofthe copy job (step S56). The value ‘1’ of the correction invalidationflag (Cal_cancel) means that the calibration correction needs to beinvalidated during the performance of the copy job.

After the processing of writing the value of the correction invalidationflag (Cal_cancel) in step S56, when a determination that the correctionstart condition has not been satisfied is made as a result of thedetermination in step S54 or after the correction processing in step S55is ended, the correction command control section 77 commands toinvalidate the correction of calibration, whereupon a predetermined copyjob is promptly carried out (step S57).

Each time single copy processing is executed in step S57, the maincontrol section 11 determines whether a copy job related to an inputoperation by a user (making a color copy of 10 sheets of an A4 document,for example) has been completed (step S58). When a determination thatthe whole copy job has been completed is made, as a result of thecompletion determination in step S58, the main control section 11terminates the whole processing.

On the other hand, when a determination that the copy job has not beencompleted yet is made, as a result of the completion determination instep S58, the correction necessity determining section 75 determineswhether the value of the correction invalidation flag (Cal_cancel) is‘1’ (step S59). When the value of the correction invalidation flag(Cal_cancel) is determined as being ‘1’, as a result of thedetermination in step S59, the correction necessity determining section75 returns the flow of the processing to step S57 and repeats thesubsequent processing. By this means, in step S56, loop processing iscarried out in Steps S57 to S59 after ‘1’ is written as the value of thecorrection invalidation flag (Cal_cancel), whereupon the copy job isexecuted rapidly under invalidation of the calibration correction.

On the other hand, when the value of the correction invalidation flag(Cal_cancel) is determined as not being ‘1’, as a result of thedetermination in step S59, the correction necessity determining section75 determines whether the start key 57 is input during execution of thecopy job (step S60). When a determination that the start key 57 has beeninput during execution of the copy job is made, as a result of thedetermination in step S60, the correction necessity determining section75 increments the value of the start key flag (Key_R) (step S61).Consequently, in step S61, ‘1’ is written as the value of the start keyflag (Key_R), when the start key 57 is input during execution of thecopy job.

After the processing of writing the value of the start key flag (Key_R)in step S61 or when a determination that the start key 57 has not beeninput during execution of the copy job is made as a result of thedetermination in step S60, the correction necessity determining section75 makes a determination on whether the value of the start key flag(Key_R) is ‘1’ (step S62). When the value of the start key flag (Key_R)is determined as being ‘1’, as a result of the determination in stepS62, the correction necessity determining section 75 returns the flow ofthe processing to step S56 and repeats the subsequent processing. Bythis means, when the start key 57 is input during the performance of thecopy job, ‘1’ is written as the value of the correction invalidationflag (Cal_cancel) in step S56, regarding that invalidation of thecalibration correction is selected by the user later. The loopprocessing in Steps S57 to S59 is carried out after the value of thecorrection invalidation flag (Cal_cancel) is written, whereupon the copyjob is executed rapidly under invalidation of the calibrationcorrection.

On the other hand, when the value of the start key flag (Key_R) isdetermined as not being ‘1’ as a result of the determination in stepS62, the correction necessity determining section 75 returns the flow ofthe processing to step S54 and repeats the subsequent processing.

Effects of the Second Embodiment

According to the image forming apparatus according to the secondembodiment of the present invention, as described above, when a userwith the intention of having an image forming job urgently completedinputs the start key 57 more than once within a predetermined time as ifto press the key successively, that operation information is acquired bythe operation information acquisition section 71. In response to that,the correction necessity determining section 75 makes a determination onwhether correction processing of calibration needs to be invalidated,based on the operation information. Responding to that, the correctioncommand control section 77 invalidates the calibration correction(processing for maintenance on image forming) during execution of thecopy job. Therefore, even if a user with the intention of having animage forming job urgently completed carries out the successivekeystroke input operations of the start key 57 accidentally withoutbeing aware that the successive keystroke input operation is a triggerto invalidate the maintenance processing, the correction processing ofcalibration cannot be performed during the copy job. As a result, abenefit in line with a user's intention of having a copy job completedurgently can be gained regardless of whether the user with the intentionknows an operation procedure to invalidate the correction processing ofcalibration. On the other hand, the correction processing of calibrationis performed during the copy job, if necessary, in the case of a userhaving no such intention. Accordingly, a benefit of obtaining an imagewith high quality to which maintenance on image forming is performedappropriately can be gained. As a result, the conflicting requests froma user that a processing time of image forming is short and that animage with high quality is obtained can both be satisfied.

Printer Driver, Program and Recording Medium of a Third Embodiment ofthe Present Invention

Subsequently, a printer driver, a program and a recording mediumaccording to a third embodiment of the present invention are describedin detail with reference to FIGS. 6 to 8. Hereinafter, a digital colorcopier (the image forming apparatuses according to the first and secondembodiments) is exemplified as a printer which is an objectoperation-controlled by the printer driver according to the thirdembodiment of the present invention. Operation of the digital colorcopier is described as citing an example of being controlled by aprinter driver installed in an information processor 81 such as apersonal computer connected to the copier via a network.

Information Processor and its Peripheral Configuration, Installed withthe Printer Driver of the Third Embodiment of the Present Invention

In the third embodiment of the present invention, the network I/Fsection 65 shown in FIG. 6 controls transmission and reception of avariety of data relative to the information processor 81 such as aclient PC connected via the LAN with use of a network interface(10/100Base-TX). The network I/F section 65, for example, receives printdata and a print control signal containing a command to invalidate acalibration which have been transmitted from the information processor81.

The information processor 81 includes an input device 83 including amouse and a keyboard, a display (corresponding to ‘a display’ in thepresent invention) 85 composed of a liquid crystal display panel, etc.,for displaying a variety of information, an operation informationaccepting section (corresponding to ‘an operation information acceptingsection’ in the present invention) 87 accepting an input operationrelated to execution of a print job via the input device 83 and aninvalidation command transfer section (corresponding to ‘an invalidationcommand transfer section’ in the present invention) 89 transferring to acopier (printer) a command to invalidate correction processing ofcalibration during execution of a print job involving a user's intentionof having the processing completed in a short time when an inputoperation related to the execution of the print job is accepted via theoperation information accepting section 87. The operation informationaccepting section 87 and the invalidation command transfer section 89constitute a printer driver 91 according to the third embodiment of thepresent invention. Maintenance processing such as a calibrationcorrection can be invalidated by installing the printer driver 91 in apredetermined memory area in the information processor 81.

Linkage Operation of the Digital Color Copier and the InformationProcessor

Next, linkage operation of the digital color copier and the informationprocessor is described with reference to FIG. 7 and FIG. 8.

When a user carries out an input operation related to a copy job byclicking various kinds of buttons arranged on a print dialogue 101 (seeFIG. 8 and FIG. 9), as shown in FIG. 7, the operation informationaccepting section 87 accepts that operation information and transmitsthe accepted operation information to the invalidation command transfersection 89. In response to that, the invalidation command transfersection 89 makes the information processor 81 make a correctionnecessity determination on whether a calibration correction needs to beinvalidated during execution of the relevant copy job, based on theacquired operation information (step S71). In step S71, a user'sintention of correction necessity is determined through checking whetherthe input operation by the user is an input operation related toexecution of a copy job involving his/her intention of having aprocessing completed in a short time, and more specifically, whether an‘OK’ button 103 on the print dialogue 101 shown in FIG. 8 isdouble-clicked by the user.

When a determination that a correction is needed (correction does notneed to be invalidated) is made, as a result of the correction necessitydetermination in step S71, the invalidation command transfer section 89transfers to the copier a command that correction processing ofcalibration should not be invalidated. In response to that, the maincontrol section 11 refers to a correction start condition stored in thecorrection start condition table 73, thereby determining whether thecorrection start condition is satisfied (step S72). As the correctionstart condition for the calibration, a predetermined condition, forexample, starting a calibration correction every 1,000 times of copying,only needs to be set as appropriate. When the correction start conditionis determined as having been satisfied, as a result of the determinationin step S72, the main control section 11 commands a correction relatedto calibration, whereby correction processing according to predeterminedrules is carried out during the copy job (step S73). Although the copyjob is suspended until the correction processing is completed, it ishighly probable that image quality is improved after the execution ofthe calibration correction. Therefore, the user can obtain an image withhigh quality in return for being forced to wait.

When a determination that a correction is not wanted (a correction needsto be invalidated) is made, as a result of the correction necessitydetermination in step S71, the invalidation command transfer section 89transfers an invalidation command to invalidate the calibrationcorrection processing, to the copier. In response to that, the maincontrol section 11 commands to invalidate a correction related tocalibration, whereupon a predetermined copy job is executed immediately(step S74). The execution of a copy job in step S74 is conducted in thesame manner as the above when a determination that the correction startcondition has not been satisfied is made as a result of thedetermination in step S72 or after the correction processing is ended instep S73.

The main control section 11 makes a determination on whether a copy job(making a color copy of 10 sheets of an A4 document, for example)related to an input operation by a user is completed, each time singlecopy processing is carried out in step S74 (step S75). When the copy jobis determined as not having been completed yet, as a result of thecompletion determination in step S75, the main control section 11returns the flow of the processing to step S71 and repeats thesubsequent processing. When the copy job is determined as having beencompleted, as a result of the completion determination in step S75, themain control section 11 terminates the whole processing.

In addition, if a user who has carried out an operation of selecting notto invalidate a correction reaches the point of intending to invalidatethe correction later, switching to a correction invalidation mode can bepermitted even during the job by double-clicking the ‘OK’ button 103related to the correction invalidation.

The mode that a user double-clicks the ‘OK’ button 103 on the printdialogue 101 as a key operation acting as a trigger to input his/herselection of a correction invalidation is exemplary described in theembodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention isnot restricted to the embodiment and can adopt a mode that a ‘correctionoperation on (CAL_ON)’ button 105 and a ‘correction operation off(CAL_OFF)’ button 107 are arranged independently side by side, as shownin FIG. 9, and the user selects a print job involving the correctioninvalidation by clicking the independent dedicated key (see the‘correction operation off (CAL_OFF) button 107 in FIG. 9) with a singlekeystroke. By doing that, a user who wants a necessary copy job to beexecuted urgently can accomplish his/her intention easily bysingle-clicking the dedicated key without hesitation. Accordingly,convenience for the user can be enhanced.

Furthermore, a concept of the information processor 81 in the thirdembodiment generally includes a personal computer (PC), a workstation(WS), a personal digital assistant (PDA) and the like, for example.

In addition, the printer driver according to the third embodiment cantake an embodiment as a program or a recording medium. Morespecifically, for example, the printer control function according to thethird embodiment may adopt a mode to be performed by a host computerwith use of a program installed externally. In that case, even when agroup of information including the program is supplied to an outputdevice by a recording medium such as a CD-ROM, a flash memory and afloppy disk or from an external recording medium via a network, thepresent invention can be applied as it is.

The object of the present invention can also be achieved by supplying asystem or a device with a recoding medium storing a program code forsoftware to realize the function in the foregoing embodiment and readingand executing the program code stored on the recording medium by acomputer (or a CPU or a MPU) of the system or the device. In this case,the program code itself which has been read out from the recordingmedium realizes a novel function of the present invention, and therecording medium stored with the program code constitutes the presentinvention.

As the recording medium for supplying the program code, a flexible disk,a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R,a DVD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, an EEPROMand a silicon disk can be used, for example.

In addition to that the function in the aforementioned embodiment isrealized by executing the program code which has been read by thecomputer, a mode that an operating system (OS) operating on the computerperforms a part or the whole of actual processing, based on aninstruction by the program code so that the processing realizes thefunction in the aforementioned embodiment also falls within thetechnical scope of the present invention.

The program code having been read out from the recording medium iswritten in a memory provided on an extension board inserted into thecomputer or an extension unit connected to the computer, and then a CPUprovided in the extension board or extension unit performs a part or thewhole of actual processing, based on an instruction by the program code.A mode of realizing the function in the aforementioned embodiment bythis processing also falls within the technical scope of the presentinvention.

Lastly, it is to be understood that a program composed of software torealize the present invention is downloaded from a server or database ona network with use of a communications program to be read, therebyallowing the system or the device enjoy the function of the presentinvention.

Effects of the Third Embodiment

With the printer driver according to the third embodiment of the presentinvention, as described above, when a user with the intention of havinga processing completed in a short time carries out an input operation ofexecution of a copy job involving the intention, the invalidationcommand transfer section 89 transfers to the copier (printer) aninvalidation command to invalidate a calibration correction (processingfor maintenance on printing) during execution of the copy job.Therefore, the processing for maintenance on printing cannot be executedduring the copy job in the case of the user with the intention of havingthe processing completed in a short time. By this means, a benefit inline with the user's intention of having a processing completed in ashort time is gained. On the other hand, the processing for maintenanceon printing according to predetermined rules is executed during the copyjob in the case of a user having no such intention. Consequently, abenefit of obtaining an image with high quality to which the maintenanceon printing is performed as appropriate is gained. As a result, theconflicting requests from a user that a processing time for printing isshort and that an image with high quality is obtained can both besatisfied.

The program according to the third embodiment is configured as a programto realize the function of the printer driver according to the presentinvention in the information processor. Consequently, an informationprocessor capable of satisfying both the conflicting requests from auser that a processing time for printing is short and that an image withhigh quality is obtained can be embodied by installing the programaccording to the present invention in the information processor.

The recording medium according to the third embodiment is configured asa computer-readable recording medium storing the program according tothe present invention, which contributes greatly to the spread of aprogram exhibiting a practical application with superior functions ofsatisfying both of the conflicting requests from a user that aprocessing time for printing is short and that an image with highquality is obtained.

Other

The present invention is not restricted to the aforementionedembodiments and can be modified as appropriate without departing fromthe gist or technical idea of the present invention understood from theclaims and the specification. An image forming apparatus, a printerdriver, a program and a recording medium with such a modification arealso to fall within the technical scope of the present invention.

The image forming apparatuses according to the first and secondembodiments of the present invention and the printer driver according tothe third embodiment of the present invention are configured such that anecessity for correction invalidation is selected each time a usercarries out an input operation of a start of a copy job and its settingis not stored. Therefore, execution of a copy job against the user'sintention, for example, correction invalidation has been initially setup although the user wants to start the copy job without the correctioninvalidation, can be avoided.

Finally, in the embodiment of the present invention, the correctionprocessing of calibration for maintaining quality of image forming(printing) is exemplarily described as processing for maintenance onimage forming. However, it is to be understood that the presentinvention is not restricted to the embodiment and can be applied toevery processing for maintenance on image forming such as a case offeedback-correcting image output characteristics based on surfacepotential of a photosensitive drum, for example.

1. An image forming apparatus configured to execute processing formaintenance on image forming based on predetermined rules, the apparatuscomprising: an operation information acquisition section acquiringoperation information related to execution of an image forming job; aninvalidation determining section making a determination on whether themaintenance processing needs to be invalidated, based on the operationinformation acquired by the operation information acquisition section;and an invalidation control section taking control of invalidating themaintenance processing during execution of the image forming jobregardless of the predetermined rules, when a determination that themaintenance processing needs to be invalidated is made, as a result ofthe determination in the invalidation determining section.
 2. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the invalidationdetermining section determines to invalidate the maintenance processingwhen the operation information acquisition section acquires operationinformation that an image forming job involving an intention of having aprocessing completed in a short time is to be executed.
 3. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the maintenanceprocessing is processing related to a calibration for maintainingquality of image forming.
 4. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising an operation key section with a plurality ofoperation keys for accepting an operation input by a user, the operationinput being related to execution of an image forming job, wherein theoperation information related to the execution of the image forming jobinvolving the intention of having a processing completed in a short timeis obtained by simultaneously operating more than one key in combinationamong the plurality of the operation keys.
 5. The image formingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation keysection with a plurality of operation keys for accepting an operationinput by a user, the operation input being related to execution of animage forming job, wherein the operation information related to theexecution of the image forming job involving the intention of having aprocessing completed in a short time is acquired by operating anindependent dedicated key among the plurality of the operation keys. 6.The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the operationkey section is composed of both or either one of groups of keys ofhardware resources and software resources.
 7. The image formingapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an operation keysection with a plurality of operation keys for accepting an operationinput by a user, the operation input being related to execution of animage forming job, wherein the invalidation determining sectiondetermines to invalidate the maintenance processing when the operationinformation acquisition section acquires operation information that theoperation key has been input more than once within a predetermined time.8. The image forming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein themaintenance processing is processing related to a calibration formaintaining quality of image forming.
 9. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the operation key is a start key operatedat the time of an input instruction for execution of an image formingjob.
 10. The image forming apparatus according to claim 9, wherein theinvalidation determining section determines to invalidate themaintenance processing when the operation key is input during executionof the image forming job or maintenance processing.
 11. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the operation keysection is composed of both or either one of groups of keys of hardwareresources and software resources.
 12. A printer driver installed in aninformation processor provided with a display in order to control anoperation of a printer configured to execute processing for maintenanceon printing based on predetermined rules, the printer driver comprising:an operation information accepting section accepting an input operationrelated to execution of a print job; and an invalidation commandtransfer section transferring to the printer a command to invalidate theprocessing for maintenance during execution of a print job involving anintention of having a processing completed in a short time regardless ofthe predetermined rules, when the operation information acceptingsection accepts operation information related to the execution of theprint job.
 13. The printer driver according to claim 12, wherein theprocessing for maintenance on printing is processing related to acalibration for maintaining print quality.
 14. The printer driveraccording to claim 12, wherein the operation information related to theexecution of the print job involving the intention of having aprocessing completed in a short time is accepted by clicking more thanonce a print button provided on a dialogue related to execution of aprint job and displayed on a display screen of the display.
 15. Theprinter driver according to claim 12, wherein the operation informationrelated to the execution of the print job involving the intention ofhaving a processing completed in a short time is accepted by clicking adedicated correction invalidation print button provided on a dialoguerelated to execution of a print job and displayed on a display screen ofthe display.
 16. (canceled)
 17. A computer-readable recording mediumstoring a program for realizing a function of a printer driver, theprinter driver comprising: an operation information accepting sectionaccepting an input operation related to execution of a print job; and aninvalidation command transfer section transferring to the printer acommand to invalidate the processing for maintenance during execution ofa print job involving an intention of having a processing completed in ashort time regardless of the predetermined rules, when the operationinformation accepting section accepts operation information related tothe execution of the print job.